DrFirst, Imprivata and Forward Advantage Collaborate to Deliver Innovations in Controlled Substance E-Prescribing to MEDITECH Users

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Mar 07, 2018, 07:03 ET

ROCKVILLE, Md., March 7, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- DrFirst, Imprivata and Forward Advantage today announced their collaboration to deliver new enhancements to the controlled substance e-prescribing workflow for MEDITECH users. The MEDITECH-recommended solution brings enhanced security and in-workflow PDMP access to the e-prescribing process, helping MEDITECH prescribers combat the opioid crisis while recognizing new workflow efficiencies.

Although specific regulations vary, 40 states in the U.S. now require prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) look-up when prescribing controlled substances. EPCS Gold® from DrFirst integrates PDMP access into the e-prescribing workflow with a zero-click automated look-up that saves nearly three minutes per patient. Providers can spend more time on patient care, while providing compliance to PDMP verification mandates.

EPCS Gold 2.0 also integrates with Imprivata Confirm ID to give customers increased flexibility for meeting the two-factor authentication requirement for EPCS. Imprivata Confirm ID allows customers to use FIPS-compliant fingerprint biometrics, giving prescribers a fast, convenient authentication option for EPCS. As part of the MEDITECH recommended solution for EPCS, Imprivata Confirm ID is delivered and implemented through Forward Advantage.

"Prior to EPCS Gold, non-narcotics could be sent electronically, but narcotics had to be prescribed on paper," says Eric Gasser, vice president of information systems at Wooster. "Physicians didn't like having these separate workflows, so we implemented EPCS to encourage electronic prescribing. Our hospital is a leader in assuring patient safety and in addressing the opioid epidemic, and this allows physicians to safely prescribe medications in a way that's more satisfying to them and our patients. In fact, it's been so effective and well-received that electronic prescribing is now mandated in our hospital."

In 2007, DrFirst experts worked alongside the Drug Enforcement Administration and the National Institute of Standards and Technology to define and implement security and authentication requirements for e-prescribing controlled substances. This proactive, problem-solving mindset extends to the EPCS Gold update. DrFirst continues to further strengthen security architecture to be resilient against a variety of threats, by providing better security integration including: password encryption, refined certificate validation, and improved audit logs.

To learn more about the MEDITECH-recommended solution for EPCS at HIMSS18, please visit:

DrFirst at booth 1668
Imprivata at booth 2854
Forward Advantage at booth 759
MEDITECH at booth 1360

About DrFirst
DrFirst, the nation's leading provider of e-prescribing and medication management solutions, enables stakeholders across the healthcare industry to intelligently utilize comprehensive real-time data and connectivity to increase their patient safety ratings, efficiency and profitability. Today, over 170,000 healthcare professionals and over 60% of Electronic Health Record vendors, depend on DrFirst's innovative software solutions to improve clinical workflows, expedite secure collaboration across a patient's care team and drive better health outcomes. The company's integrated technologies include its award-winning electronic prescribing platform, the most comprehensive medication history available, clinically specialized secure messaging, as well as patient medication adherence monitoring and benefits checking. In addition, DrFirst was the first to offer e-prescribing for controlled substances (EPCS), and is considered the industry standard for providers nationwide. For more information, please visit www.drfirst.com or connect with us @DrFirst.

About Imprivata
Imprivata®, the healthcare IT security company, provides healthcare organizations globally with a security and identity platform that delivers ubiquitous access, positive identity management, and multifactor authentication. Imprivata enables healthcare securely by establishing trust between people, technology, and information to address critical compliance and security challenges while improving productivity and the patient experience. For more information, please visit www.imprivata.com.

About Forward Advantage
Since 1993, Forward Advantage has provided innovative and cost-effective solutions for healthcare organizations. With more than 1200 customers, the company uses its deep expertise to solve a wide range of healthcare challenges by listening to its customers and collaborating with them on solutions that improve the healthcare experience with better access to information. Examples include: automated and intelligent report distribution, streamlined identity and access management, migrating and archiving legacy data, document management, EMR-integrated secure messaging, and interoperability solutions connecting hospitals and physicians. More information on Forward Advantage and its solutions can be found at www.forwardadvantage.com.

DrFirst Media Contact:
Jenna Warner
Amendola Communications
480-664-8412 x 19
[email protected]

SOURCE DrFirst